Water leak from behind the bottom pulley

[mikecg]

Hi I have noticed a small puddle from a water leak that emanates from behind the bottom pulley. There is a small slot at the base of the housing behind and the water drips from there. It is clean antifreeze/water and actually appears to slow up when the engine is running. The expansion tanks obviously goes down but there are no traces of muck in it or under the Oil filler cap or at the end of the dip stick. The water pump which is above and forward of the bottom pulley is also leak free.

Anybody got any ideas?

[esprit888]

Hi I have noticed a small puddle from a water leak that emanates from behind the bottom pulley. There is a small slot at the base of the housing behind and the water drips from there. It is clean antifreeze/water and actually appears to slow up when the engine is running. The expansion tanks obviously goes down but there are no traces of muck in it or under the Oil filler cap or at the end of the dip stick. The water pump which is above and forward of the bottom pulley is also leak free.

Anybody got any ideas?

Sounds very much like the water pump, do you have the timing belt covers off? that would be my next step.

[alan e]

i had the same problem on my car over the weekend it was the water pump leaking, if you want to remove the cam belt lower cover you will have to remove the pulley but you can remove the top part of the cover to check the pump which is not easy to remove there is one fixing that you will have to disconnect the engine mount from the engine so you will have to get a jack under the sump with a wooden plate between the jack and the sump so you dont damage it. if it is the pump rock auto have them part AW9220 and its worth doing the cam belt at the same time part 95169K1 good luck its a pig of a job.

NB look on youtube under lotus elan M100 cam belt change.

[Candles]

Water pumps are deliberately designed to 'inform' you of the bearing seal failing through a weep hole. It means that water will be getting to the bearing which means it will fail soon. Next will be a whirring sound, then seizure, then exploding engine.

[alan e]

:agree:

Water pumps are deliberately designed to 'inform' you of the bearing seal failing through a weep hole. It means that water will be getting to the bearing which means it will fail soon. Next will be a whirring sound, then seizure, then exploding engine.

Is that lotus way of looking after you giving you lots of notice before your engine explodes

[John_W]

Water pump.

[Rambo]

What if it's a new water pump ?

[GeoffSmith]

What if it's a new water pump ?

You've got a duff new waterpump.

[tb10]

You've got a duff new waterpump.[/quote]

[mikecg]

Thanks for all the great rapid responses. As a new lotus owner it is great to have so many people to call upon for advice.

[John_W]

Even if we all ignored you saying "The water pump ... is also leak free".

[HJ2]

How do you know the pump is leak free?
It happens a lot that when running or hot it will not leak. Then you park it and it cools down and the dripping starts
The electrical water-pump can leak as well, but by head I don't know it there are any hoses connected that can guide the liquid to the point where you see it.
I still think it is the water pump though